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Human Interest Saturdays

Posted March 29, 2008 at 10:27 AM by Michael J. Sedor

Section: Beijing 2008, Culture/History, Human Interest, Socio-Political, Events, Aquatics, Boxing, Cycling/BMX, Other, Columns/Blogs, Michael Sedor

Human Interest Saturdays by Michael J. Sedor A 58-year-old CEO of a yacht building company, a Romany Gypsy proudly fighting off lingering stereotypes and prejudices, a 17-year-old scion of American cycling royalty, and a 13-year-old desperate to get a tattoo. What do they all have in common? They will all be participating in the Beijing Olympics. Every athlete has a story; these are just a few that caught our eye this week.

In 1968 John Dane III participated in his first Olympic Trials and finished second to the sailboat that would go on to score gold at the Mexico City games. Forty years later Dane has earned a phD in civil engineering, he’s a successful businessman helming two thriving boat building companies, and he’s had seven children and two grandchildren. But he hasn’t yet competed in a Olympic Games. His 1972, 1976 and 1984 qualifying attempts also fell just short. Last October his Olympic dream came true when he and his teammate Austin Sperry, also his son-in-law, won the US Olympic Team Star Trials. For more about Mr. Dane here is a recent sail-world.com profile, a starclass.org summary of his Star Trials victory, a sail-world.com summary of the same event, and Dane’s Trinity Yachts website.

18-year-old Billy Joe Saunders is one of Great Britain’s most promising boxing talents. He’s 29-1 as a senior amateur fighter including a win over the top ranked world amateur welterweight Cuban Carlos Bantuer. His background is even more compelling than his skills: Saunders is a Romany Gypsy with strong ties to his community; he lives on a caravan site just north of London. The Saunders family tree is no stranger to pugilism. His 94-year-old great-grandfather was a fabled bare-knuckled Gypsy fairground champion, his father was a skilled fighter, and his brother is a professional. There is not enough space here to do his story justice so read Saunders’ profiles as published in The Times, The Daily Telegraph, and BBC Sport.co.uk.

Taylor Phinney was destined for cycling greatness. He is the son of 1984 American Olympians Davis Phinney and Connie Carpenter-Phinney. The 17-year-old 8th place finish in last Wednesday’s individual pursuit at the world track cycling championships should be enough to send him to Beijing. He will get the official word next week. He and his family are facing another battle next week: Davis, 48, is undergoing a brain operation to lessen the symptoms of his worsening Parkinson’s disease. Two extraordinary articles, one in the USA Today the other in the New York Times, describe the Phinney family’s journey, their struggle, and how their son’s Olympic quest is getting them through this difficult time.

And finally what would an Olympics human interest wrap-up be without 13-year-old Olympic diver Tom Daley? Incomplete. The Daily Mail has recently published a Tom Daley ”secret diary” and a profile entitled ”He loves cuddly toys and wears braces”. Some of the many choice quotes: “I don’t have any sad songs on my iPod as that would just be stupid for me!”, “People (at school) do call me ‘The Diver Boy’ and say, ‘Oh, look, that’s the boy who wears Speedos’, but I try to avoid it.” and “If you start getting nervous (while being interviewed on TV), you start stuttering and getting flustered, so you’ve just got to ignore the cameras and talk to them as if they’re normal people. Which they sort of are.” This kid is the best!